Chuck having quick change mechanism

ABSTRACT

A chuck includes a driver disposed on a chuck body and in engagement with the jaws so that at least one of rotation and axial movement of the driver with respect to the body opens or closes the jaws. A first detent is disposed in the body in communication with the jaws. At least one of the jaws defines a catch at a predetermined position so that the catch engages the first detent when the jaws are at a predetermined position on the body with respect to a chuck bore.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to chucks for hand, electric orpneumatic power drivers. Electric and pneumatic tool drivers are wellknown. Although twist drills are the most common tools on such drivers,the tools may also comprise screw drivers, nut drivers, burrs, mountedgrinding stones and other cutting or abrading tools. Since the toolshanks may be of varying diameter or of polygonal cross-section, thedevice is usually provided with a chuck that is adjustable over arelatively wide range. The chuck may be attached to the driver spindleby a threaded or tapered bore. A variety of chucks for both hand andpower drivers have been developed in the art. In an oblique jawed chuck,a chuck body includes three passageways disposed approximately 120degrees apart from each other. The passageways are configured so thattheir center lines meet at a point along the chuck access that istypically forward of the chuck. The passageways constrain three jawsthat are moveable in the passageways to grip a cylindrical or polygonaltool shank displaced approximately along the chuck's center axis. Thechuck includes a nut that rotates about the chuck center and thatengages threads on the jaws so that rotation of the nut moves the jawsin either direction within the passageways. The body is attached to thespindle of a driver and is configured so that rotation of the body inone direction with respect to the nut forces the jaws into grippingrelationship with the tool shank, while rotation in the oppositedirection releases the gripping relationship. The chuck may be operatedby a chuck key, or the sleeve may be rotated by hand in a keylessconfiguration. An example of a keyless chuck is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,125,673 commonly assigned to the present Assignee and the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Variousconfigurations of keyless chucks are known in the art and are desirablein a variety of applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoingconsiderations, and others, of prior art constructions and methods.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved chuck for a tool driver.

This and other objects may be achieved by a chuck for use with a manualor powered driver having a drive shaft. The chuck includes a generallycylindrical body member having a nose section and a tail section. Thetail section is configured to mate with the drive shaft of the driver,and the nose section has an axial bore formed therein. A plurality ofjaws are disposed radially reciprocally within the body in communicationwith the bore. Each jaw has a jaw face formed thereon for engagementwith the tool. A driver is disposed on the body member and in engagementwith the jaws so that rotation and/or axial movement of the driver withrespect to the body drives the jaws toward or away from the axial bore,depending on the direction of the rotation and/or axial movement. Afirst detent is disposed in the body in communication with the jaws. Atleast one of the jaws defines a catch thereon at a predeterminedposition on the jaw so that the catch engages the first detent when thejaws are at a predetermined position on the chuck body with respect tothe axial bore.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a second detent extends intothe axial bore so that a tool shank defining a predeterminedcross-sectional distance deflects the second detent radially outward asthe tool shank is inserted into the axial bore. The jaw faces engagecircumferential gripping surfaces of the tool shank when the jaws are insuch predetermined position.

In another preferred embodiment, a chuck for use with a manual ofpowered driver having a drive shaft includes a generally cylindricalbody member having a nose section and a tail section. The tail sectionis configured to mate with the drive shaft of the driver, and the nosesection has an axial bore formed therein. A plurality of jaws aredisposed radially reciprocally within the body in communication with thebore. Each of the jaws has a jaw face formed thereon for engagement withthe tool. An annular nut is axially movably disposed about the body indriving engagement with the jaws so that axial movement of the nut withrespect to the body drives the jaws toward and away from the axial bore,depending on the direction of the axial movement. The nut defines athreaded outer circumferential surface. A generally cylindrical sleeveis rotatably mounted about the body and defines a threaded innercircumferential surface engaging the threaded outer surface of the nutso that relative rotation between the nut and the sleeve moves the nutaxially with respect to the body. The nut and the body tail section arerotationally coupled by an axially aligned, with respect to the chuckbody, slot defined on one of the nut and the tail section and an axiallyaligned rib defined on the other of the nut and the tail section andreceived by the slot.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth moreparticularly in the remainder of the specification, which makesreference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a chuck in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the chuck as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the chuck as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a chuck in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the chuck as in FIG. 4.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification anddrawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elementsof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodimentsof the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation ofthe invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variationscan be made in the present invention without departing from the scope orspirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a chuck 10 in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention includes a front sleeve 12, an optional rearsleeve 14, a body member 16, and jaws 18. Body 16 is generallycylindrical in shape and comprises a nose or forward section 20 and atail or rearward section 22. An axial bore 24 is formed in the nosesection and is somewhat larger than the largest tool shank that thechuck is designed to accommodate. A threaded bore 26 is formed in tailsection 22 and is of a standard size to mate with the drive shaft of apowered or hand driver (not shown). The bores 24 and 26 may communicateat the central region of body member 16. While a threaded bore isillustrated, such bore could be replaced with a tapered bore of astandard size to mate with a tapered drive shaft or could be madeintegrally with the drive shaft.

Passageways 30 are formed in body member 16 to accommodate each jaw 18.Preferably, three jaws 18 are employed, and each jaw is separated fromthe adjacent jaw by an arc of approximately 120 degrees. The axes ofpassageways 30 and jaws 18 are angled with respect to chuck axis 28 butintersect the chuck axis at a common point. Each jaw has a tool engagingface 32 that is generally parallel to the chuck body axis.

Body 16 defines a shoulder 36 against which is received a bearingassembly comprised of a pair of washers 38 and 40 and a caged ballbearing ring 42 between the washers. Forward race 38 bears in an axiallyforward direction against a shoulder 44 of sleeve 12, and rearward axialmovement of sleeve 12 on the body is prevented by shoulder 36 throughthe bearing assembly. The bearing assembly may comprise any suitablyconstruction, for example of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.5,348,318, incorporated by reference herein.

A C-clip 46 is received in an annular groove 47 in the body to securethe sleeve and the bearing assembly in the axially forward direction. Anose piece 48 is slidably received over body nose section 20 and isyieldably axially restrained by a compressible C-ring 50 as described inmore detail below.

The outer circumferential surface of sleeve 12 may be knurled or may beprovided with longitudinal ribs or other protrusions to enable anoperator grip it securely. The sleeve may be fabricated from astructural plastic such as polycarbonate, a filled polypropylene, forexample glass-filled polypropylene, or a blend of structural plasticmaterials. Other composite materials, such as, for example,graphite-filled polymerics could also be suitable in certainenvironments. Further, the sleeve may be constructed from suitablemetals, such as steel. As should be appreciated by one skilled in theart, the materials from which the chuck is fabricated may depend on theend use of the power driver, and the above are provided by way ofexample only.

An interior surface of sleeve 12 defines female threads 52. The threadsare a modified square thread formation. It should be understood,however, that any suitable thread shape or formation may be employed,for example including a modified buttress thread. The forward faces ofthe threads may be angled, as shown in FIG. 2, or may form straight orcurved surfaces. Furthermore, the threads may define any suitable pitch,for example an eight pitch configuration along the length of the sleeve.

A driver, in this embodiment a nut 34, is slidably received over thechuck body and has a male thread 54 extending about the nut's outercircumferential surface. Thread 54 has the same pitch as thread 52 sothat when thread 54 is received by thread 52, relative rotation betweensleeve 12 and nut 34 moves the nut axially within the sleeve. Inparticular where the nut is molded, thread 54 may have sloped sides, forexample at an approximately 5 degree slope, extending from the nut'souter surface to the thread's outer circumference.

Nut 34 includes three equiangularly spaced apart slots 56 extendingaxially through the nut that receive respective end sections 58 of jaws18. Slots 56 are generally cylindrical in shape, and end sections 58have cut-outs 60 on either side of each jaw so that end sections 58 areradially slidable within the nut. The interaction of slots 56 and endsections 58 axially secures the jaws to the nut, so that the jaws travelwith the nut as it moves axially on the chuck body, and preventsrotation of the jaws about their axes.

It should be understood that the jaws may be secured to the nut in anysuitable manner. For example, the nut may include slots that extendentirely axially through the nut, and jaw ends 58 may extend through theslots and rearward of the nut. A garter spring may extend around allthree jaw ends to retain the jaws axially to the nut.

Since the jaws are received in jaw passageways 30, the connectionbetween jaw ends 58 and slots 56 prevent the nut from rotating aboutbody 16. The nut is also rotationally coupled to the body, however, by aslot/key arrangement between three ribs 62 extending axially along thebody's tail section and three respective slots 64 that extend axiallyalong the nut's inner circumference and that slidably receive respectiveribs 62. Thus, even though the nut and body are also rotationallycoupled by the jaws in the jaw passageways, the slot/key formationprovides further rotational stabilization between the two components. Itshould be understood that the particular shapes of the slots and ribsmay vary and that slots or ribs may be defined on either the nut or thechuck body.

Because the nut is rotationally coupled to the chuck body, rotation ofsleeve 12 with respect to the body moves the nut axially with respect tochuck axis 28 by the cooperation between threads 52 and 54. Depending onthe sleeve's rotational direction, the nut, and therefore the jaws, moveaxially forward or backward on the body to an opened or closed position.

As the jaws move forward toward a closed position, jaw ends 58 moveradially inward within nut slots 56. Conversely, the jaw ends moveradially outward toward sleeve 12 as the nut moves rearwardly in theopening direction. A guard ring 66 is received on an outer shelf surface68 of nut 34 and covers the openings to slots 56, thereby preventing jawends 58 from extending radially outward of slots 56 in an extreme openposition and interfering with the sleeve thread. Guard ring 66 includesthree finger portions 70 that extend axially forward, and radiallyinward, from the openings at generally the same angle with respect tochuck axis 28 as defined by jaws 18. The guard ring is maintained in thecorrect rotational position by flanges 72 that grip opposing surfaces 74of an axial slot 76 extending through the outer surface of nut 34.

A stop 75 may be provided at the rear edge of thread 52 so that a rearedge of thread 54 abuts the stop when the jaws reach a fully openposition. A similar stop (not shown) may be provided at the front end ofthread 52 to stop a forward edge of thread 54 to prevent the jaws frombinding in the fully closed position (as shown in FIG. 3) when there isno tool in the chuck bore.

By rotating sleeve 12, an operator may grip and release a cylindrical orpolygonal shaped tool shank through the jaws alone. The chuck may also,however, include a quick change mechanism. The quick change mechanismmay include a lever 78, and a tool shank such as a shank 80 (shown inphantom in FIG. 2) may have a suitable catch, for example an annulargroove 82, to receive the lever. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and2, lever 78 is housed in a cartridge 84 pressed into an axial slot 86extending radially through body 16 and opening into bore 24. Lever 78 ispivotally attached to the cartridge, and therefore the chuck body, at apin 88. A spring 90 winds about a pin 92 and has a first end 94 restingagainst a rearward edge of cartridge 84 and a second edge 96 that restsagainst a rearward end 98 of lever 78 so that spring 90 biases rearwardend 98 into bore 24. Due to the pivotal connection of lever 78 at 88, aforward end 100 of lever 78 is biased radially outward against an innersurface of nose piece 48.

When a tool shank 80 of sufficient cross-sectional diameter is insertedinto bore 24, a leading edge 102 of the tool shank engages a forwardedge of rearward end 98 and pushes rearward end 98 radially outwardagainst the bias of spring 90 so that rearward end 98 passes over toolshank 80 as the tool shank is inserted into the bore. When the shankpasses to a sufficient depth into the bore, spring 90 pushes rearwardend 98 into annular groove 82. If the tool shank is pulled axiallyforward, groove 82 engages a rearward edge of rearward end 98, tendingto pivot lever 78 about pin 88. This rotation is, however, prevented bythe engagement of forward end 100 against the inner surface of nosepiece48. Thus, the detent retains shank 80 axially in bore 24.

To secure the polygonal (in this case hexagonal) shank, the operator mayinsert the shank into the chuck bore so that lever 78 engages groove 82and then rotate sleeve 12 until jaws 18 close upon the shank's flatgripping surfaces so that the jaws rotationally secure the shank. Whilea polygonal shank is illustrated in the figures, it should be understoodthat the shank may have other shapes and that the gripping surfaces may,for example, be cylindrical. Where a cylindrical shank is used, the jawsmay be tightened onto the shank to provide rotational restraint.

However, the jaws may also be brought to a predetermined position priorto the shank's insertion, and the chuck may include a detent to locatethe jaws in such a position. One such detent, for example a resilientO-ring or a C-shaped spring 104, is received within a groove 106 aboutthe body's exterior surface. Groove 106 extends into the bodysufficiently so that it opens into jaw passageways 30. Thus, the outersurfaces of jaws 18 extend into groove 106 so that spring 104 is biasedinward against the jaw sides.

Each jaw includes a catch, for example a circumferential groove 108, ata predetermined position on the jaw so that spring 104 simultaneouslyengages all three jaw grooves 108 when jaw faces 32 define a circlehaving a diameter such that the jaw faces will engage the flat grippingsurfaces of tool shank 80 when the tool shank is inserted into the bore.Thus, the jaws prevent the tool shank's rotation while lever 78 retainsthe shank axially. It should be understood that the catch may compriseany suitable structure, for example a raised portion on the jaw side,and that the catch configuration may vary as suitable for a givendetent.

Spring 104 does not hold the jaws so securely that the operator isunable to rotate sleeve 12 once the catch and detent are engaged. Thatis, as the operator rotates the sleeve to move the jaws in the jawpassageways, the operator feels the engagement between spring 104 andgroove 108 but is able to continue opening or closing the jaws if theoperator so desires. Thus, spring 104 and grooves 108 locate the jawsfor the operator when it is desired to use the chuck in a quick changeconfiguration.

As should be recognized by one skilled in the art, the position at whichgrooves 108 are defined on jaws 18 depends on several factors, includingthe chuck's dimensions, the placement of spring 104, and the diameter bywhich it is desired to separate jaw faces 32. Preferably, the diameteris defined by the dimensions of a tool shank with which the chuck isexpected to be commonly used, for example ¼ inches, {fraction (7/16)}inches, or other suitable diameter.

Once shank 80 is inserted into the bore, it may be released by pullingnosepiece 48 forward so that a cam surface 110 at the rear of thenosepiece pushes forward end 100 of lever 78 radially inward withincartridge 84. This pivots lever 78 about pin 88 so that rearward end 98moves radially outward out of groove 82.

Lever 78 assists in retaining nosepiece 48 on the body. Cam surface 110is sloped such that the pin's forward end 100, which is biased into thecam surface by spring 90, tends to urge the nosepiece axially rearwardinto its position shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, C-ring 50 is biasedradially outward against a second cam surface 112. When the nosepiece ispulled forward, ring 50 pushes outward against cam surface 112 and, whenthe operator releases the nosepiece, urges the nosepiece axiallyrearward to its position shown in FIG. 2.

It should be understood that the detents shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 areprovided for purposes of example only and are not intended to limit thepresent invention. Instead of cartridge 84, for example, a pin or ballmay be received in a slot or bore extending radially through the body atan angle with respect to chuck axis 28 so that the bore opens axiallyforwardly into the chuck bore. A spring in the bore biases the ball orpin forward toward and into the chuck bore so that the pin or ball ispushed back into the bore upon insertion of the tool shank but preventsthe tool from being pulled out. Various quick change detents, andrelease mechanisms, should be understood in this art.

Further, it should be understood that the jaw gripping detent may beconstructed in any suitable configuration and may be placed in anysuitable position to engage the jaws. For example, referring to FIGS. 4and 5, spring 104 is located in a groove 114 defined about an innercircumferential surface of the body within bore 24. Similarly to thecorresponding groove in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, groove 114extends into jaw passageways 30. In this case, however, the sidesurfaces of jaws 18 push spring 104 radially inward so that the springis biased outward against the jaw surfaces. When the jaws reach thepredetermined position where jaw faces 32 define the desired diameter,spring 104 engages grooves 108 in the jaws, thereby locating the jawsand notifying the operator that the jaws are in the desired position.

The embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrates that the quick-changemechanism may be employed in any suitable chuck configuration. Body 16is again generally cylindrical in shape and includes a nose section 20and a tail section 22. Bore 24 is dimensioned somewhat larger than thelargest tool shank that the chuck is designed to accommodate. The tailsection defines a threaded bore of a standard size to mate with a driveshaft, and the front and rear bores may communicate at a central regionof the chuck body. Tail section 22 may also include a knurled surfacefor receipt of optional rear sleeve 14 to be pressed thereon if sodesired.

Body 16 defines three passageways 30 to respectively accommodate threejaws 18. Each jaw is separated from the adjacent jaw by an arc ofapproximately 120 degrees. The axes of passageways 30 and jaws 18 areangled with respect to the chuck center axis 28 such that eachpassageway axis travels through axial bore 24 and intersects axis 28 ata common point. Each jaw's tool engaging face 32 is generally parallelto axis 28. Threads 116, formed on each jaw's opposite or outer surface,may be constructed in any suitable type and pitch.

Body 16 includes a radially extending flange 118 that, in a preferredembodiment, may be integral with the body. It should be understood,however, that flange 118 and body 16 may be separate components. Jawpassageways 30 extend through flange 118 to permit retraction of jaws 18therethrough, and the flange includes a ledge portion 120 to receive abearing assembly 122.

A front cylindrical portion 124 of body 16 is of a greater diameter thana smaller tapered portion 126 to form a circumferential groove thatreceives a split nut 128 in front of bearing assembly 122. Nut 128includes threads 130 for mating with threads 116 on jaws 18. Thus, whennut 128 is rotated with respect to the body, the jaws are moved inpassageways 30 forward or backward, depending on the nut's rotationaldirection with respect to the body. Nut 128 receives a retaining band132 that maintains the nut together after assembly. The nut includesdrive slots 134 that receive drive ribs 136 on sleeve 12 so that sleeve12 rotationally drives nut 60 to move jaws 18 within the passageways.

The front sleeve includes a front ledge portion 138 that bears against aC-clip 46 received in an annular groove 142 and that retains the sleevein the axially forward direction. Nosepiece 48 is secured to the chuckbody, and operates, in a manner similar to that discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

While one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen described above, it should be understood that any and allequivalent realizations of the present invention are included within thescope and spirit thereof. Thus, the depicted embodiments are presentedby way of example only and are not intended as limitations of thepresent invention. It should be understood that aspects of the variousone or more embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part.Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments areincluded in the present invention as may fall within the literal orequivalent scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driverhaving a drive shaft, said chuck comprising: a generally cylindricalbody member having a nose section and a tail section, said tail sectionbeing configured to rotate with said drive shaft of said driver and saidnose section having an axial bore formed therein; a plurality of jawsdisposed radially reciprocally within said body in communication withsaid bore, each of said jaws having a jaw face formed thereon forengagement with said tool; a driver disposed on said body member and inengagement with said jaws so that at least one of rotation and axialmovement of said driver with respect to said body member drives saidjaws toward or away from said axial bore, depending on the direction ofsaid rotation or said axial movement; and a first detent disposed insaid body in communication with said jaws, wherein at least one of saidjaws defines a catch thereon at a predetermined position on said jaw sothat said catch engages said first detent when said jaw faces are at apredetermined position in said axial bore.
 2. The chuck as in claim 1,including a second detent having an axially forward edge and an axiallyrearward edge, wherein said second detent is disposed in said body sothat said second detent is biased into said axial bore, is radiallyoutwardly deflectable by force applied in an axially rearward directionto said axially forward edge, and is retained against radial deflectionfrom force applied in an axially forward direction to said axiallyrearward edge.
 3. The chuck as in claim 2, wherein said second detentextends into said axial bore so that a tool shank defining apredetermined cross-sectional distance deflects said second detentradially outward as said tool shank is inserted into said axial bore andwherein said jaw faces engage circumferential gripping surfaces of saidtool shank when said jaws are in said predetermined position on saidbody.
 4. The chuck as in claim 3, wherein said driver includes anannular nut axially movably disposed about said body in drivingengagement with said jaws so that axial movement of said nut withrespect to said body moves said jaws toward or away from the axis ofsaid axial bore, and wherein said nut defines a threaded outercircumferential surface, and wherein said chuck includes a generallycylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted about said body and defining athreaded inner circumferential surface engaging said threaded outersurface of said nut so that relative rotation between said nut and saidsleeve moves said nut axially with respect to said body.
 5. The chuck asin claim 4, wherein said nose section defines a plurality of angularlydisposed passageways intersecting said axial bore, and wherein said jawsare slidably received within respective said passageways.
 6. The chuckas in claim 5, including a radially extending thrust ring axially fixedto said body and engaging said sleeve so that said sleeve transfersrearward axial force to said body through said thrust ring, and abearing disposed between said thrust ring and said sleeve.
 7. The chuckas in claim 4, wherein said nut and said tail section of said body arerotationally coupled by an axially aligned, with respect to said chuckbody, slot defined on one of said nut and said tail section and anaxially aligned rib defined on the other of said nut and said tailsection and received by said slot.
 8. The chuck as in claim 7, whereinsaid nut and said tail section define multiple pairs of said slots andribs.
 9. The chuck as in claim 3, wherein said driver includes anannular nut axially fixed and rotatable with respect to said body. 10.The chuck as in claim 9, wherein said nose section defines a pluralityof angularly disposed passageways intersecting said axial bore, andwherein said jaws are slidably received within respective saidpassageways.
 11. The chuck as in claim 10, wherein each of said jawsdefines threads thereon, wherein said nut defines threads on acircumferential surface thereof, and wherein said nut threads engagesaid jaw threads so that relative rotation between said nut and saidbody drives said jaws in said passageways toward or away from the axisof said axial bore.
 12. The chuck as in claim 3, wherein said jaw facesdefine a diameter of approximately 0.25 inches when said first detentengages said catches on said jaws.
 13. The chuck as in claim 2, whereinsaid second detent includes a pin pivotally disposed in said body andextending into said axial bore.
 14. The chuck as in claim 13, whereinsaid second detent includes a spring disposed operatively between saidbody and said pin and biasing said pin into said axial bore.
 15. Thechuck as in claim 14, including a nose piece axially movably disposed onsaid nose section of said body and about said pin, said nose piecedefining a cam surface proximate said pin so that upon movement of saidnose piece to an axially forward position, said cam surface deflectssaid pin against said spring away from the axis of said axial bore. 16.The chuck as in claim 2, wherein said nose section defines a radial slottherein opening into said axial bore, said second detent includes a pinpivotally disposed within said slot, said pin includes a forward endaxially forward, with respect to said chuck body, of a pivotalconnection between said pin and said body and a rearward end axiallyrearward of said pivotal connection, said second detent includes aspring disposed in said slot operatively between said body and saidrearward end and biasing said rearward end into said axial bore, andsaid rearward end defines said forward edge and said rearward edge. 17.The chuck as in claim 16, including a nose piece axially movabledisposed on said nose section of said body and about said forward end,said nose piece defining a cam surface proximate said forward end sothat upon movement of said nose piece to an axially forward position,said cam surface deflects said forward end so that said pin pivots aboutsaid pivotal connection against said spring and moves said rearward endaway from the axis of said axial bore.
 18. A chuck for use with a manualor powered driver having a drive shaft, said chuck comprising: agenerally cylindrical body member having a nose section and a tailsection, said tail section being configured to rotate with said driveshaft of said driver and said nose section having an axial bore formedtherein; a plurality of jaws disposed radially reciprocally within saidbody in communication with said bore, each of said jaws having a jawface formed thereon for engagement with said tool; a driver disposed onsaid body member and in engagement with said jaws so that at least oneof rotation and axial movement of said driver with respect to said bodymember drives said jaws toward or away from said axial bore, dependingon the direction of said rotation or said axial movement; and a firstdetent disposed in said body in communication with said jaws, wherein atleast one of said jaws defines a catch thereon at a predeterminedposition on said jaw so that said catch engages said first detent whensaid jaws are at a predetermined position on said body with respect tosaid axial bore, wherein said first detent includes a spring disposedcircumferentially on said body in engagement with said jaws so that saidspring is biased into said jaws.
 19. The chuck as in claim 18, whereinsaid body defines an annular groove in an outer circumferential surfaceof said body and wherein said spring is disposed within said groove. 20.The chuck as in claim 18, wherein said body defines an annular groove inan inner circumferential surface of said body within said axial bore andwherein said spring is disposed within said groove.
 21. The chuck as inclaim 18, wherein said catch on each said jaw includes an annular groovedefined about an outer surface of said jaw.
 22. A chuck for use with amanual or powered driver having a drive shaft, said chuck comprising: agenerally cylindrical body member having a nose section and a tailsection, said tail section being configured to rotate with said driveshaft of said driver and said nose section having an axial bore formedtherein; a plurality of jaws disposed radially reciprocally within saidbody in communication with said bore, each of said jaws having a jawface formed thereon for engagement with said tool; a driver disposed onsaid body member and in engagement with said jaws so that at least oneof rotation and axial movement of said driver with respect to said bodymember drives said jaws toward or away from said axial bore, dependingon the direction of said rotation or said axial movement; a springdisposed circumferentially on said body in engagement with said jaws sothat said spring is biased into said jaws, wherein at least one of saidjaws defines a catch thereon at a predetermined position on said jaw sothat said catch engages said spring when said jaws are at apredetermined position on said body with respect to said axial bore; adetent having an axially forward edge and an axially rearward edge,wherein said detent is disposed in said body so that said detent isbiased into said axial bore, is radially outwardly deflectable by forceapplied in an axially rearward direction to said axially forward edge,and is retained against radial deflection from force applied in anaxially forward direction to said axially rearward edge.
 23. The chuckas in claim 22, wherein said detent extends into said axial bore so thata tool shank defining a predetermined cross-sectional distance deflectssaid detent radially outward as said tool shank is inserted into saidaxial bore and wherein said jaw faces engage circumferential grippingsurfaces of said tool shank when said jaws are in said predeterminedposition on said body.
 24. The chuck as in claim 23, wherein said catchon each said jaw includes an annular groove defined about an outersurface of said jaw.
 25. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driverhaving a drive shaft, said chuck comprising: a generally cylindricalbody member having a nose section and a tail section, said tail sectionbeing configured to rotate with said drive shaft of said driver and saidnose section having an axial bore formed therein and a plurality ofangularly disposed passageways intersecting said axial bore; a pluralityof jaws disposed reciprocally within said passageways, each of said jawshaving a jaw face formed thereon for engagement with said tool; anannular nut axially movably disposed about said body in drivingengagement with said jaws so that axial movement of said nut withrespect to said body drives said jaws within said passageways, andwherein said nut defines a threaded outer circumferential surface; agenerally cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted about said body anddefining a threaded inner circumferential surface engaging said threadedouter surface of said nut so that relative rotation between said nut andsaid sleeve moves said nut axially with respect to said body; a springdisposed circumferentially on said body across said passageways and inengagement with said jaws so that said spring is biased into said jaws,wherein at least one of said jaws defines a catch thereon at apredetermined position on said jaw so that said catch engages saidspring when said jaws are at a predetermined position on said body withrespect to said axial bore; and a detent having an axially forward edgeand an axially rearward edge, wherein said detent is disposed in saidbody so that said detent is biased into said axial bore, is radiallyoutwardly deflectable by force applied in an axially rearward directionto said axially forward edge, and is retained against radial deflectionfrom force applied in an axially forward direction to said axiallyrearward edge.
 26. The chuck as in claim 25, wherein said body definesan annular groove in an outer circumferential surface of said body andwherein said spring is disposed within said groove.
 27. A chuck for usewith a manual or powered driver having a drive shaft, said chuckcomprising: a generally cylindrical body member having a nose sectionand a tail section, said tail section being configured to rotate withsaid drive shaft of said driver and said nose section having an axialbore formed therein and a plurality of angularly disposed passagewaysintersecting said axial bore; a plurality of jaws disposed reciprocallywithin said passageways, each of said jaws having a jaw face formedthereon for engagement with said tool and threads formed thereon; anannular nut axially fixed and rotatably disposed about said body, saidnut defining threads thereon that engage said jaw threads so thatrotation of said nut with respect to said body drives said jaws withinsaid passageways; a generally cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted aboutsaid body and rotationally coupled to said nut so that said sleeverotationally drives said nut; a spring disposed circumferentially onsaid body across said passageways and in engagement with said jaws sothat said spring is biased into said jaws, wherein at least one of saidjaws defines a catch thereon at a predetermined position on said jaw sothat said catch engages said spring when said jaws are at apredetermined position on said body with respect to said axial bore; adetent having an axially forward edge and an axially rearward edge,wherein said detent is disposed in said body so that said detent isbiased into said axial bore, is radially outwardly deflectable by forceapplied in an axially rearward direction to said axially forward edge,and is retained against radial deflection from force applied in anaxially forward direction to said axially rearward edge.
 28. The chuckas in claim 27, wherein said body defines an annular groove in an innercircumferential surface of said body within said axial bore and whereinsaid spring is disposed within said groove.
 29. A chuck for use with amanual or powered driver having a drive shaft, said chuck comprising: agenerally cylindrical body member having a nose section and a tailsection, said tail section being configured to rotate with said driveshaft of said driver and said nose section having an axial bore formedtherein; a plurality of jaws disposed radially reciprocally within saidbody in communication with said bore, each of said jaws having a jawface formed thereon for engagement with said tool; an annular nutaxially movably disposed about said body in driving engagement with saidjaws so that axial movement of said nut with respect to said body drivessaid jaws toward and away from said axial bore, depending on thedirection of said axial movement, and wherein said nut defines athreaded outer circumferential surface; a generally cylindrical sleeverotatably mounted about said body and defining a threaded innercircumferential surface engaging said threaded outer surface of said nutso that relative rotation between said nut and said sleeve moves saidnut axially with respect to said body; and an annular band disposedabout said circumferential surface of said nut to retain said jawswithin said annular nut, wherein said nut and said tail section of saidbody are rotationally coupled by an axially aligned, with respect tosaid chuck body, slot defined on one of said nut and said tail sectionand an axially aligned rib defined on the other of said nut and saidtail section and received by said slot.
 30. The chuck as in claim 29,wherein said nut and said tail section define multiple pairs of saidslots and ribs.
 31. The chuck as in claim 29, wherein said tail sectiondefines said rib, and said nut defines said slot.
 32. The chuck as inclaim 29, wherein said nose section defines a plurality of angularlydisposed passageways intersecting said axial bore, and wherein said jawsare slidably received within respective said passageways.
 33. The chuckas in claim 32, wherein said nut defines a plurality of slots extendingat least partially radially therethrough, and each said jaw includes aportion thereof that is shaped thereby so that said jaw is axiallyfixed, and radially slidable, with respect to said nut.
 34. The chuck asin claim 33, wherein said slots in said nut are cylindrical.
 35. A chuckfor use with a manual or powered driver having a drive shaft and anelongated tool shaft having a polygonal cross section and a definingcircumferential groove, said chuck comprising: a generally cylindricalbody member having a nose section and a tail section, said tail sectionbeing configured to rotate with said drive shaft of said driver and saidnose section having an axial bore formed therein; a plurality of jawsdisposed radially reciprocally within said body in communication withsaid bore, each of said jaws having a jaw face formed thereon forengagement with the tool; a driver disposed on said body member and inengagement with said jaws so that at least one of rotation and axialmovement of said driver with respect to said body member drives saidjaws toward or away from said axial bore, depending on the direction ofsaid rotation or said axial movement; and a first detent disposed insaid body so that said first detent is biased into said axial bore andso that, upon insertion of the tool shaft into said bore so that thegroove in the tool shaft is aligned with said first detent, said firstdetent engages the groove and creates a positive axial lock so that thetool shaft cannot be removed until said positive axial lock is released,wherein, upon movement of said jaws to a predetermined location, saidjaw faces engage flat sides of the tool shaft so as to rotationallyretain the tool shaft.
 36. The chuck as in claim 35, said first detentincluding a radial bore in said body extending from an outercircumference of said body to an inner circumference of said body. 37.The chuck as in claim 36, said first detent further including apivotally mounted lever having a first and second end and a springcoupled to said lever, wherein said spring urges said first end of saidlever into said axial bore.
 38. The chuck as in claim 37, said firstdetent further including a cartridge that houses said lever and saidspring, wherein said spring is disposed operatively between saidcartridge and said first end of said lever so that said spring biasessaid first end of said lever into said axial bore.
 39. The chuck as inclaim 38, said first detent further including a first pin disposedoperatively between two walls of said cartridge, wherein said lever ispivotally mounted to said first pin.
 40. The chuck as in claim 39, saidfirst detent further including a second pin disposed operatively betweensaid two walls of said cartridge, wherein said spring is coupled to saidsecond pin.
 41. The chuck as in claim 37, said chuck further including anose piece axially movably disposed on said nose section of said bodyand about said lever, said nose piece defining a cam surface proximatesaid second end of said lever so that upon movement of said nose pieceto an axially forward position, said cam surface deflects said secondend of said lever against said spring pivoting said first end of saidlever away from the axis of said axial bore, thereby releasing saidpositive lock from the grove on the tool shaft allowing the tool shaftto be removed from said axial bore.
 42. The chuck as in claim 41,further including a second detent disposed in said body in communicationwith said jaws.
 43. The chuck as in claim 42, said second detentincluding a ring disposed circumferentially on said body in engagementwith said jaws so that said ring is biased into said jaws.
 44. The chuckas in claim 43, said driver further including an annular nut axiallymovably disposed about said body in driving engagement with said jaws sothat either axial or rotational movement of said nut with respect tosaid body moves said jaws toward or away from the axis of said axialbore.
 45. The chuck as in claim 44, said chuck further including agenerally cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted about said body andcoupled to said nut so that relative rotation between said nut and saidsleeve moves said jaws towards or away from the axis of said axial bore.46. The chuck as in claim 45, wherein said nose section defines aplurality of angularly disposed passageways intersecting said axialbore, and wherein said jaws are slidably received within respective saidpassageways.
 47. The chuck as in claim 46, further including: a radiallyextending ring axially fixed to said body and engaging said sleeve sothat said sleeve transfers rearward axial force to said body throughsaid ring, and a bearing disposed between said ring and said sleeve. 48.The chuck as in claim 45, said second detent further including a catchformed on at least one of said jaws.
 49. The chuck as in claim 48,wherein said catch further includes an annular groove defined about anouter surface of said jaw.
 50. The chuck as in claim 48, whereinengagement of said catch and said ring align said jaws to saidpredetermined location, thereby defining a predetermined diameter forsaid jaw faces.
 51. The chuck as in claim 50, wherein said predeterminedlocation defines a predetermined diameter of approximately 0.25 inches.52. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a drive shaftand an elongated tool shaft having a polygonal cross section and adefining circumferential groove, said chuck comprising: a generallycylindrical body member having a nose section and a tail section, saidtail section being configured to rotate with said drive shaft of saiddriver and said nose section having an axial bore formed therein; aplurality of jaws disposed radially reciprocally within said body incommunication with said bore, each of said jaws having a jaw face formedthereon for engagement with the tool; a driver disposed on said bodymember and in engagement with said jaws so that relative movementbetween said driver and said body member drives said jaws toward or awayfrom said axial bore; and a first detent disposed in said body so thatsaid first detent is biased into said axial bore, said first detentfurther comprising: a radial bore in said body extending from an outercircumference of said body to an inner circumference of said body; and apivotally mounted lever having a first and second end and a springcoupled to said lever, wherein said spring urges said first end of saidlever through said radial bore and into said axial bore, so that uponinsertion of the tool shaft into said axial bore so that the groove inthe tool shaft is aligned with said first detent, said first detentengages the groove and creates a positive axial lock so that the toolshaft cannot be removed until said positive axial lock is released. 53.The chuck as in claim 52, said first detent further including acartridge that houses said lever and said spring, wherein said spring isdisposed operatively between said cartridge and said first end of saidlever so that said spring biases said first end of said lever into saidaxial bore.
 54. The chuck as in claim 53, said first detent furtherincluding a first pin disposed operatively between two walls of saidcartridge, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted to said first pin.55. The chuck as in claim 54, said first detent further including asecond pin disposed operatively between said two walls of saidcartridge, wherein said spring is coupled to said second pin.
 56. Thechuck as in claim 55, said chuck further including a nose piece axiallymovably disposed on said nose section of said body and about said lever,said nose piece defining a cam surface proximate said second end of saidlever so that upon movement of said nose piece to an axially forwardposition, said cam surface deflects said second end of said bore,thereby releasing said positive lock from the grove on the tool shaftallowing the tool shaft to be removed from said axial bore.
 57. Thechuck as in claim 56, said driver further including an annular nutmovably disposed about said body in driving engagement with said jaws sothat relative movement between said nut and said body moves said jawstoward or away from the axis of said axial bore.
 58. The chuck as inclaim 57, said chuck further including a generally cylindrical sleeverotatably mounted about said body and coupled to said nut so thatrelative rotation between said nut and said sleeve moves said jawstowards or away from the axis of said axial bore.
 59. The chuck as inclaim 58, wherein said nose section defines a plurality of angularlydisposed passageways intersecting said axial bore, and wherein said jawsare slidably received within respective said passageways.